A few days ago, actor Yami Gautam Dhar had tweeted about how being married to a Kashmiri Pandit (filmmaker Aditya Dhar), she was made aware of the “atrocities that this peace-loving community has gone through”. Referring to the recently released The Kashmir Files by Vivek Agnihotri whose unprecedented success has taken the fraternity and box-office by storm, Yami even urged everyone to watch and support the film.

Speaking to us, Yami says, “We are very happy with how the film has been received. And it’s not just the success or numbers but it shows what people connect with or want to see or how they feel.”

The actor goes on, “We have read or heard about it (the Kashmir exodus) briefly, but we never really knew the details of what exactly happened. When I met Aditya and his family, [they told me] all this has actually happened. And it is so painful. That’s the truth and it was long due to be told.”

However, she confesses that she is yet to watch the film: “I will watch it as soon as I can. I’m just busy shooting and working night shifts plus promoting a film. And The Kashmir Files is not a film that you can just squeeze in time for and go or watch after pack up. And I want to take my time... It’s not going to be an easy watch as you can see it from the reactions of everybody who has watched it.”

That being said, Yami reveals that Aditya did book a ticket and reached the theatre. But “he couldn’t watch the film”. She says, “It was very overwhelming for him. He said it would be too traumatic to revisit all those memories. It would be difficult to muster the courage to watch and relive the past even if it’s [via] a film.”

Asked if it bothers them that the film is being labelled as a propaganda project to divide people or incite hate, and the 33-year-old says, “This is beyond filmmaking... When you know in your heart the intention [with which] something has been made [being tagged as propaganda], it’s even more painful.”

Referring to trolls or the section of society raising questions on the intentions behind this film, Yami further adds that they should rather talk to the victims: “If someone feels the other way, why don’t they speak to people who have spent years and years in those refugee camps? I think they would be able to answer these people [asking questions] better.”

Making peace with the fact that there will always be some with a different opinion, Yami concludes, “I would love to go with what I have heard, and who I trust. And so many people cannot lie. Emotional pain is beyond all these debates and agendas.”